Arthur
Boy name · #87 in 2025 · Uniqueness 22/100
In 2025, 3,847 baby boys were named Arthur, placing it at #87 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #292, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 468 boys born in 2025 was named Arthur.
Babies named Arthur per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Arthur first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 1,599 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 10,527 boys were named Arthur — good for #19 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arthur against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arthur in class?
Arthur scores 22 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "popular" band. A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Arthur is most common
Geography matters for names, and Arthur is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Arthurs were CA (367), TX (283), NY (214), FL (191), WA (154). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Arthur
Statistically, parents drawn to Arthur tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are George, Walter, Warren, Calvin, and Leon.
GeorgeWalterWarrenCalvinLeonLouisHarveyCharlie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arthur | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,847 | #87 |
| 2024 | 3,334 | #105 |
| 2023 | 2,832 | #130 |
| 2022 | 2,691 | #140 |
| 2021 | 2,477 | #154 |
| 2020 | 2,338 | #163 |
| 2019 | 2,193 | #177 |
| 2018 | 1,653 | #229 |
| 2017 | 1,514 | #245 |
| 2016 | 1,345 | #273 |
| 2015 | 1,247 | #292 |
| 2014 | 1,153 | #306 |
| 2013 | 1,034 | #321 |
| 2012 | 865 | #355 |
| 2011 | 893 | #339 |
| 2010 | 730 | #388 |
| 2009 | 812 | #374 |
| 2008 | 862 | #363 |
| 2007 | 819 | #375 |
| 2006 | 793 | #377 |
| 2005 | 830 | #356 |
| 2004 | 792 | #355 |
| 2003 | 795 | #351 |
| 2002 | 844 | #326 |
| 2001 | 881 | #319 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Arthur a popular boy name?
Arthur ranked #87 among boys in 2025 with 3,847 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #292.
When was the name Arthur most popular?
Arthur peaked in 1921, when 10,527 American boys received the name (ranked #19 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arthur?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 468 newborn American boys was named Arthur. It scores 22/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "popular".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.